title: Can a late bloomer become an early bird? Tools for flowering time adjustment.
abstract: The transition from the vegetative to reproductive stage followed by inflorescence is a critical step in plant life; therefore, studies of the genes that influence flowering time have always been of great interest to scientists. Flowering is a process controlled by many genes interacting mutually in a genetic network, and several hypothesis and models of flowering have been suggested so far. Plants in temperate climatic conditions must respond mainly to changes in the day length (photoperiod) and unfavourable winter temperatures. To avoid flowering before winter, some plants exploit a specific mechanism called vernalization. This review summarises current achievements in the study of genes controlling flowering in the dicot model species thale cress (Arabidopsis thaliana), as well as in monocot model species rice (Oryza sativa) and temperate cereals such as barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). The control of flowering in crops is an attractive target for modern plant breeding efforts aiming to prepare locally well-adapted cultivars. The recent progress in genomics revealed the importance of minor-effect genes (QTLs) and natural allelic variation of genes for fine-tuning flowering and better cultivar adaptation. We briefly describe the up-to-date technologies and approaches that scientists may employ and we also indicate how these modern biotechnological tools and "-omics" can expand our knowledge of flowering in agronomically important crops.
authors.affiliation: Centre of the Region Haná for Biotechnological and Agricultural Research, Institute of Experimental Botany, Šlechtitelů 31, Olomouc CZ-78371, Czech Republic. Electronic address: milec@ueb.cas.
authors.forename: Zbyněk
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Milec
authors.affiliation: Centre of the Region Haná for Biotechnological and Agricultural Research, Institute of Experimental Botany, Šlechtitelů 31, Olomouc CZ-78371, Czech Republic. Electronic address: valarik@ueb.cas.cz.
authors.forename: Miroslav
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Valárik
authors.affiliation: Centre of the Region Haná for Biotechnological and Agricultural Research, Institute of Experimental Botany, Šlechtitelů 31, Olomouc CZ-78371, Czech Republic. Electronic address: bartos@ueb.cas.cz.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bartoš
authors.affiliation: Centre of the Region Haná for Biotechnological and Agricultural Research, Institute of Experimental Botany, Šlechtitelů 31, Olomouc CZ-78371, Czech Republic. Electronic address: safar@ueb.cas.cz.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Safář
mesh_terms: D001709:Biotechnology; D001947:Breeding; D018556:Crops, Agricultural / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D035264:Flowers / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D005818:Genetic Engineering; D017440:Photoperiod; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology
keywords: Arabidopsis; Biotechnology; Flowering; Genomics; Photoperiod; Rice; Vernalization; Wheat